the memorabilia-第32章
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proportioned。
Soc。 It seems you use the term 〃well…proportioned〃 not in an absolute
sense； but in reference to the wearer； just as you might describe a
shield as well proportioned to the individual it suits； and so of a
military cloak； and so of the rest of things； in your terminology？ But
maybe there is another considerable advantage in this 〃fitting〃？
Pist。 Pray instruct me； Socrates； if you have got an idea。
Soc。 A corselet which fits is less galling by its weight than one
which does not fit； for the latter must either drag from the shoulders
with a dead weight or press upon some other part of the body； and so
it becomes troublesome and uncomfortable； but that which fits； having
its weight distributed partly along the collar…bone and shoulder…
blade； partly over the shoulders and chest； and partly the back and
belly； feels like another natural integument rather than an extra load
to carry。＇13＇
＇13＇ Schneider ad loc。 cf Eur。 〃Electr。〃 192； ｛prosthemata aglaias｝；
and for the weight cf。 Aristoph。 〃Peace；〃 1224。
Pist。 You have named the very quality which gives my work its
exceptional value； as I consider； still there are customers； I am
bound to say； who look for something else in a corseletthey must
have them ornamental or inlaid with gold。
For all that （replied Socrates）； if they end by purchasing an ill…
fitting article； they only become the proprietors of a curiously…
wrought and gilded nuisance； as it seems to me。 But （he added）； as the
body is never in one fixed position； but is at one time curved； at
another raised erect how can an exactly…modelled corselet fit？
Pist。 It cannot fit at all。
You mean （Socrates continued） that it is not the exactly…modelled
corselet which fits； but that which does not gall the wearer in the
using？
Pist。 There； Socrates； you have hit the very point。 I see you
understand the matter most precisely。＇14＇
＇14＇ Or； 〃There； Socrates； you have hit the very phrase。 I could not
state the matter more explicitly myself。〃
XI
There was once in the city a fair woman named Theodote。＇1＇ She was not
only fair； but ready to consort with any suitor who might win her
favour。 Now it chanced that some one of the company mentioned her；
saying that her beauty beggared description。 〃So fair is she；〃 he
added； 〃that painters flock to draw her portrait； to whom； within the
limits of decorum； she displays the marvels of her beauty。〃 〃Then
there is nothing for it but to go and see her；〃 answered Socrates；
〃since to comprehend by hearsay what is beyond description is clearly
impossible。〃 Then he who had introduced the matter replied： 〃Be quick
then to follow me〃； and on this wise they set off to seek Theodote。
They found her 〃posing〃 to a certain painter； and they took their
stand as spectators。 Presently the painter had ceased his work；
whereupon Socrates：
＇1＇ For Theodote see Athen。 v。 200 F； xiii。 574 F； Liban。 i。 582。 Some
say that it was Theodote who stood by Alcibiades to the last；
though there are apparently other better claimants to the honour。
Plut。 〃Alc。〃 （Clough； ii。 p。 50）。
〃Do you think； sirs； that we ought to thank Theodote for displaying
her beauty to us； or she us for coming to gaze at her？ 。 。 。 It would
seem； would it not； that if the exhibition of her charms is the more
profitable to her； the debt is on her side； but if the spectacle of
her beauty confers the greater benefit on us； then we are her
debtors。〃
Some one answered that 〃was an equitable statement of the case。〃
Well then （he continued）； as far as she is concerned； the praise we
bestow on her is an immediate gain； and presently； when we have spread
her fame abroad； she will be further benefited； but for ourselves the
immediate effect on us is a strong desire to touch what we have seen；
by and by； too； we shall go away with a sting inside us； and when we
are fairly gone we shall be consumed with longing。 Consequently it
seems that we should do her service and she accept our court。
Whereupon Theodote： Oh dear！ if that is how the matter stands； it is I
who am your debtor for the spectacle。＇2＇
＇2＇ In reference to the remark of Socrates above； or； 〃have to thank
you for coming to look at me。〃
At this point； seeing that the lady herself was expensively attired；
and that she had with her her mother also； whose dress and style of
attendance＇3＇ were out of the common； not to speak of the waiting…
womenmany and fair to look upon； who presented anything but a
forlorn appearance； while in every respect the whole house itself was
sumptuously furnishedSocrates put a question：
＇3＇ Or； 〃her mother there with her in a dress and general get…up
（｛therapeia｝） which was out of the common。〃 See Becker；
〃Charicles；〃 p。 247 （Eng。 tr。）
Pray tell me； Theodote； have you an estate in the country？
Theod。 Not I indeed。
Soc。 Then perhaps you possess a house and large revenues along with
it？
Theod。 No； nor yet a house。
Soc。 You are not an employer of labour on a large scale？＇4＇
＇4＇ Lit。 〃You have not （in your employ） a body of handicraftsmen of
any sort？〃
Theod。 No； nor yet an employer of labour。
Soc。 From what source； then； do you get your means of subsistence？＇5＇
＇5＇ Or； Anglice； 〃derive your income。〃
Theod。 My friends are my life and fortune； when they care to be kind
to me。
Soc。 By heaven； Theodote； a very fine property indeed； and far better
worth possessing than a multitude of sheep or goats or cattle。 A flock
of friends！ 。 。 。 But （he added） do you leave it to fortune whether a
friend lights like a fly on your hand at random； or do you use any
artifice＇6＇ yourself to attract him？
＇6＇ Or； 〃means and appliances；〃 〃machinery。〃
Theod。 And how might I hit upon any artifice to attract him？
Soc。 Bless me！ far more naturally than any spider。 You know how they
capture the creatures on which they live；＇7＇ by weaving webs of
gossamer； is it not？ and woe betide the fly that tumbles into their
toils！ They eat him up。
＇7＇ Lit。 〃the creatures on which they live。〃
Theod。 So then you would consel me to weave myself some sort of net？
Soc。 Why； surely you do not suppose you are going to ensnare that
noblest of all gamea lover； to witin so artless a fashion？ Do you
not see （to speak of a much less noble sort of game） what a number of
devices are needed to bag a hare？＇8＇ The creatures range for their
food at night； therefore the hunter must provide himself with night
dogs。 At peep of dawn they are off as fast as they can run。 He must
therefore have another pack of dogs to scent out and discover which
way they betake them from their grazing ground to their forms；＇9＇ and
as they are so fleet of foot that they run and are out of sight in no
time； he must once again be provided with other fleet…footed dogs to
follow their tracks and overtake them；＇10＇ and as some of them will
give even these the slip； he must； last of all； set up nets on the
paths at the points of escape； so that they may fall into the meshes
and be caught。
＇8＇ See the author's own treatise on 〃Hunting；〃 vi。 6 foll。
＇9＇ Lit。 〃from pasture to bed。〃
＇10＇ Or； 〃close at their heels and run them down。〃 See 〃Hunting〃； cf。
〃Cyrop。〃 I。 vi。 40。
Theod。 And by what like contrivance would you have me catch my lovers？
Soc。 Well now！ what if in place of a dog you can get a man who will
hunt up your wealthy lover of beauty and discover his lair； and having
found him； will plot and plan to throw him into your meshes？
Theod。 Nay； what sort of meshes have I？
Soc。 One you have； and a close…folding net it is；＇11＇ I trow； to wit；
your own person； and inside it sits a soul that teaches you＇12＇ with
what looks to please and with what words to cheer； how； too； with
smiles you are to welcome true devotion； but to exclude all wantons
from your presence。＇13＇ It tells you； you are to visit your beloved in
sickness with solicitude； and when he has wrought some noble deed you
are greatly to rejoice with him； and to one who passionately cares for
you； you are to make surrender of yourself with heart and soul。 The
secret of true love I am sure you know： not to love softly merely； but
devotedly。＇14＇ And
